Turret-clamping mechanism



(No Model.)

P. H. RICHARDS. TURRET GLAMPING MECHANISM.

No. 500,217 Patented June 27', 1893.

UNrTED STATES PATENT CFFICE.

FRANCIS H. RlCHARDS, OE HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO \VALTER WOOD, OI PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TURRET-CLAMPING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 500,217, dated June 27, 1893.

Original application filed March 21, 1892, Serial No. 125 .669. Divided and this application filed February 10, 1893. Serial No.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford, and State of 5 Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Turret-Clamping Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to clamping mechlo anism for the turrets of turret-lathes; the object being to provide improved means for clamping the turret diametrically and longitudinally at the same time.

My present invention is in the nature of an I 5 improvement onthe turret-clamping mechanism described and claimed in my application, Serial No. 425,669, filed March 21, 1892, of which this application is a division.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through a turret-mechanism embodying my present invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the column and contained parts, in line a a of Fig.1. Fig 3 is a similar view, in line cl (1 of Fig 1.

Similar characters designate like parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, the usual turret-slide, D,

c is shown provided with the hollow turretcarrying column 2, which is preferably formed integral with said slide, and is split on one side thereof, as at 3, to permit of the required expansion thereof within the central bore of 5 the turret E. Said turret is shown having the usual series of tool-holding sockets, 4, formed in the periphery thereof.

The method of clamping the turret is by expanding within its central opening the aforesaid expansible column 2, on which the turret is fitted to normally turn closely yet freely. For facilitating this purpose, the column may be split or slotted on one side thereof, and means are provided for expanding and releasing the column. The means for effecting the expansion aforesaid consists of a suitable column-expander (in this instance, a composite wedge) fitting within a correspondingly-shaped portion of the column, and operated by devices which are act- (No model.)

uated by the hand-lever 30. This wedge consists of a multiplicity of co-acting expansionrims.

It will be remembered that in the turretclamping apparatus shown in my aforesaid application the upper end of the column 2 is bored tapering to receive the conical wedge, which is, in that case, the lower end of the bolt or shaft 20, on whose threaded upper end is fitted the threaded hub, 31, of the aforesaid hand-lever 30. In the present instance, that wedge is replaced by a composite one. A suitable cap, as 25, fitted on the upper end of the column 2 and extending outwardly over the turret E, serves to hold down the turret, said cap being secured to the column by suitable screws, as 26, or other equivalent means. By means of the handle 30, the operator turns the hub, or nut, 31, to forcibly draw up the wedge into the upper end of the column 2, thereby spreading or expanding said column Within the central bore of the turret E, with a force due to the combined power of the wedge, the nut and the lever; which aggregate power, it will be obvious, is very great, being, in practice, suffrcient to clamp the turret in place diametrically with extreme rigidity; as also described in my aforesaid application.

For the purpose of simultaneously clamping the turret longitudinally thereof, the lever-hub 31 is resisted in operative movement by a piece intermediate to said hub and the turret. As shown in the drawings, this intermediate or thrust-member consists of a cap, C, whose outer edge rests on the turret E, and whose hub or upper end supports the said lever-hub 31 against downward movement.

When the operator turns the expanderactuator (consisting inthe handle 30 and hub c 31, or equivalent device) to draw up the bolt 20 as hereinbefore described, the power exerted is applied equally (less the difference due to friction) downwardly upon the upper surface of the turret and upwardly upon the 5 column-expander. The effect of this distribution of the force is, obviously, to simultaneously expand the column by means of the wedge, and to draw the turret downwardly in the column 2 against the turret- 10o slide D, thereby effectually clamping the turret in two directions at the same time; since, when the wedge-actuator is operated, said actuator reacts through said clamp against the turret in a direction longitudinally of the column.

According to my present improvements, the shaft 20 is enlarged at its lower end and has the inclined face, or wedge, 33, formed thereon; and the bore 23 of the column 2 is correspondingly tapered at its upper end, at 35'. A series of split wedge-rings, in the present instance four in number, are placed over the shaft 20 and within the column 2, intermediate to said wedges 33 and 35. Said rings are reversely constructed and arranged, two of them, 35 and 36, being fitted to the bore 23 and formed internally conical; while the other two rings, 37 and 38, fit the shaft 20 and are externally conical. Vhen the operator, by means of the lever and the nut 31, draws up the shaft 20, this operates to force all of said conical rings one against the other and thereby expand the rings and 36 against the sides of the bore 23, and compress the rings 37 and 38 upon the said rod 20; the result is that the column is expanded at several points alongits length, and it fits equally firmly throughout its length within theturret.

Having thus described my invention, I 30 claim- 1. The combination with an expansible turret-carrying column internally flanged at one end thereof, and with the turret revolubly mounted on said column, of one or more expansible wedge-rings within the column and bearing against said column-flange, a bolt having a head bearing upon said ring or rings in opposition to said column-flange, and means for actuating the bolt to force the ring or rings within the column for expanding the same, substantially as described.

2. The combination with an expansible turret-carrying column internally flanged at one end thereof, and with the turret revolubly mounted on said column, of a series of reversely-constructed expansible wedge-rings within the column and bearing against said column-flange, a bolt having a head bearing upon said rings in opposition to said coluin nflange, and means for actuating the bolt to force the rings within the column for expanding the same, substantially as described.

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS.

Witnesses:

E. M. DAWSON, WM. H. DE LAoY. 

